Shows location of trench 011AB10012 in relation to the rest of Site 11

011AB10012

Machine excavated trench over the stream channel

Stratigraphic Matrix Diagram


The matrix diagram above shows all of the features found in the machine excavated trench 011AB10012.

All Contexts and Associated Finds Totals

FEATURE CUT  FILL VOLUME OBJECTS AN BONE DENSITY
PIT 011AB00256 011AB00233   2 + 7 2  
PIT 011AB00271 011AB00257      
PIT 011AB00294 011AB00269   2    
  011AB00270    
STREAM FILL 011AB00261    
STREAM FILL 011AB00262   1 2  
STREAM FILL 011AB00264   8 2  
STREAM FILL 011AB00265   30 15  
STREAM FILL 011AB00266   11 3  
STREAM FILL 011AB00267
STREAM FILL 011AB00268      
STREAM FILL 011AB00280   14 6  
STREAM FILL 011AB00281 2
STREAM FILL 011AB00282   3 3  
STREAM FILL 011AB00283   1  
STREAM FILL 011AB00284   4  
DOG BURIAL 011AB00292 011AB00263

Discussion

This machine trench was initially cleaned under the spit number 011AB00209. Following the cleaning, the three pits and the stream channel were investigated. As all of these features were contained within this trench, they will be discussed in this page.

The three pits contained very little in the way of dating evidence, with pit 011AB00271 containing no finds at all. Pit 011AB00294 contained 4 snail shells and one piece of retouched flint blade, and was stratigraphically sealed by stream layer 011AB00268 (unfortunately no finds were recovered from this layer). Pit 011AB00256 contained 9 finds, although these included an Anglian potsherd, a Roman potsherd and a partial flint blade, together with a number of unassigned potsherds.

The stream channel fills provided most of the material culture recovered from this trench, with 72 objects and 33 animal bones recovered. However, 3 of the layers (011AB00261, 011AB00267 and 011AB00268) were completely sterile as regards finds. All of the layers showed evidence of iron pan staining. The layers were generally differentiated by the different diameters of chalk, as well as the variations in shape (angular as opposed to rounded). By far the most productive layer was 011AB00265, which contained 17 pieces of worked flint, as well as a copper alloy droplet (presumably from bronze working). A number of quernstone fragments were found, although it is likely that these derive from layer 011AB00266, which contained many granitic quernstone fragments, as well as 6 flint flakes. Bones recovered from the western edge of these two layers were highly mineralised. Layer 011AB00280 contained 11 pieces of worked flint together with some sandstone quern fragments. A sample of charcoal was recovered from beneath the quernstone. Generally speaking, a high percentage of the finds recovered from this stream channel investigation were flint, together with quernstone fragments and large mineralised animal bones. As was known from previous investigations, the stream channel was utilised from the Mesolithic period right through to the present day (although now channeled on a different alignment). Stratigraphically, they are difficult to explain, as the stream channel moves from side to side it undercuts previous layers. This tends to mix the material from a number of deposits. No ditches were found in this trench, as opposed to the other three investigations over the stream channel to the south (011AB10009, 011BA10008 and 011BD10009).

Also noted was a dog burial (011AB00263), which was located right on the south-western edge of the machine-excavated trench. It was never fully excavated.

011AB00265 Object Totals by Period and Material

KEY_ID PERIOD MATERIAL No
011AB00265 Unassigned COPPER ALLOY 1
011AB00265 PREHISTORIC FLINT 17
011AB00265 ROMAN POTTERY 2
011AB00265 Unassigned POTTERY 1
011AB00265 Unassigned STONE 9

011AB00266 Object Totals by Period and Material

KEY_ID PERIOD MATERIAL No
011AB00266 PREHISTORIC FLINT 6
011AB00266 Unassigned STONE 5

011AB00280 Object Totals by Period and Material

KEY_ID PERIOD MATERIAL No
011AB00280 Unassigned CHARCOAL 1
011AB00280 PREHISTORIC FLINT 11
011AB00280 ROMAN POTTERY 1
011AB00280 Unassigned STONE 1

011AB00265 Animal Bone Totals by Species

KEY_ID SPECIES No
011AB00265 Cattle 14
011AB00265 Sheep/Goat 1

011AB00256 Context Details

KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES
011AB00233 PIT FILL SUB-CIRCULAR
217
86
42
 WIDE U THE PIT WAS UNCOVERED BY MACHINE AND CONTAINED  FINDS FROM A NUMBER OF PHASES. ONLY 2 ANIMAL BONES.
011AB00256 PIT CUT SUB-CIRCULAR
215
86
42
 WIDE U THE FULL WIDTH OF THE PIT WAS DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH. THE PIT WAS RELATIVELY MUCH HIGHER THAN THE REST OF THE FEATURES IN THE TRENCH. 

011AB00271 Context Details

KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES
011AB00257 PIT FILL SUB-CIRCULAR
129
121
19
 VERT.SIDE F.BASE FILL OF PIT. CONTAINED IRON PANNING THROUGHOUT. NO FINDS.
011AB00271 PIT CUT SUB-CIRCULAR
129
121
22
 VERT.SIDE F.BASE THE PIT WAS HEAVILY IRON PANNED AND HAD NO FINDS. PIT HAS ALMOST VERTICAL SIDES WITH A FAIRLY FLAT BASE.

011AB00292 Context Details

KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES
011AB00263 SKELETON No entry
0
0
0
 No entry DOG BURIAL UNCOVERED BY MACHINE IN NORTHERN TRENCH OF 11AB. BURIAL OUT OF CONTEXT DUE TO DISTURBANCE BY MACHINE. NEVER FULLY EXCAVATED.
011AB00292 GRAVE CUT No entry
0
0
0
 No entry ISSUED AS GRAVE CUT OF DOG BURIAL 263. NEVER EXCAVATED.

011AB00294 Context Details

KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES
011AB00269 PIT FILL SUB-CIRCULAR
82
95
16
 U-SHAPED THIS FILL COMPLETELY SEALED 270 (CLAY LAYER). NO FINDS. SANDY AND IRON PAN STAINED.
011AB00270 PIT FILL LINEAR
52
39
3
 FLAT CLAY LENS SEALED BY 269. NO FINDS.
011AB00294 PIT CUT SUB-CIRCULAR
82
95
16
 U-SHAPED OVERLAIN BY 268 (6TH STREAM LAYER).

Stream Channel Fills Context Details

KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES
011AB00261 STREAM FILL COMPLEX
288
130
3
 FLAT STREAM BED LAYER 1. ROUNDED CHALKY PEBBLES. SIZE 1-7CM. NO VISIBLE FINDS. SOME IRON PAN PRESENT. VERY THIN 2-3CM.
011AB00262 STREAM FILL LINEAR
302
221
6
 COMPLEX SANDY GRAVEL LAYER. ANGULAR. PEBBLES 0.5-6CM IN DIAMETER. BONES AND BLACK FLINT VISIBLE. IRON PAN THROUGH NORTH-SOUTH AXIS.
011AB00264 STREAM FILL LINEAR
324
151
4
 COMPLEX SANDY GRAVEL 0.5-7CM ANGULAR. IRON PAN STAIN MOSTLY ON S SIDE OF LAYER. FLINT ANIMAL BONE(INCLUSIONS BOAR) AND SANDSTONE WERE FOUND.
011AB00265 STREAM FILL LINEAR
560
335
10
 COMPLEX ROUNDED PEBBLY LAYER. 1-4CM DIAMETER. BONES MINERALIZED. 1 PIECE BRONZE SLAG. FRAGMENTS OF QUERN STONES.
011AB00266 STREAM FILL LINEAR
345
172
8
 COMPLEX ROUNDED PEBBLES 1-4CM DIAMETER. MANY ?QUERNSTONE FRAGMENTS-GRANITIC MAT.
011AB00267 LAYER OVATE
45
20
2
 CONCAVE CHARCOAL LAYER FOUND IN CTXT 266. LAY UNDER THE QUERN STONES.
011AB00268 STREAM FILL AMORPHOUS
340
182
6
 COMPLEX THE LAYER WAS FOUND TO OVERLAY 269(PIT). NO FINDS.
011AB00280 LAYER AMORPHOUS
340
102
4
 COMPLEX LARGE BONES/CHARCOAL FLECKING/FLINT AND QUERNSTONE FRAGMENTS FOUND.
011AB00281 LAYER RECTANGULAR
49
35
7
 COMPLEX VERY LARGE ANIMAL BONES FOUND IN THIS LAYER. THEY PROTRUDED UP INTO THE LAYER ABOVE(280).
011AB00282 LAYER COMPLEX
344
165
10
 COMPLEX THE SANDY GRAVEL HAD INCLUSIONS OF 0.5-6CM DIAMETER. ONLY A FEW FRAGMENTS OF BONE(10)2 SMALL PIECES OF FLINT AND 4 FRAGMENTS OF QUERNSTONE.
011AB00283 LAYER COMPLEX
340
120
4
 COMPLEX SANDY CLAY LAYER WITH NO FINDS. CHALKY GRAVEL INCLUSIONS 0.5-2.5 CM IN DIAMETER.
011AB00284 LAYER COMPLEX
340
294
5
 COMPLEX CHALKY GRAVEL 0.5-3 CM IN DIAMETER. FLINT FLAKES AN ANIMAL BONE FINDS.

 

011AB00233 Objects

KEY_ID OB PERIOD MATERIAL TYPE SUB_TYPE CLASS No
011AB00233 AA ANGLIAN POTTERY SHERD   ANGLIAN II
1
011AB00233 AB Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AB00256 AA Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AB00256 AB ROMAN POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH?
1
011AB00256 AC PREHISTORIC FLINT BLADE FRAGMENT PROXIMAL  
1
011AB00256 AD Unassigned POTTERY SHERD    
1
011AB00256 AE Unassigned POTTERY SHERD    
1
011AB00256 AF Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AB00256 AG Unassigned STONE PEBBLE    
1

011AB00269 Objects

KEY_ID OB PERIOD MATERIAL TYPE SUB_TYPE CLASS No
011AB00269 AA PREHISTORIC FLINT BLADE RETOUCHED  
1
011AB00269 AB Unassigned SNAIL SNAIL SAMPLE    
4

Stream Channel Objects

KEY_ID OB PERIOD MATERIAL TYPE SUB_TYPE CLASS No
011AB00262 AA LATE NEO FLINT SCRAPER    
1
011AB00264 AA Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AB00264 AB Unassigned STONE STONE   SANDSTONE
1
011AB00264 AC PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE/BLADE    
1
011AB00264 AD Unassigned STONE STONE   SANDSTONE
1
011AB00264 AE Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AB00264 AF Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AB00264 AG PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE    
1
011AB00264 AH Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AB00265 AA Unassigned COPPER ALLOY C/A DROPLET    
1
011AB00265 AB Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AB00265 AC Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AB00265 AD Unassigned STONE STONE   SANDSTONE
1
011AB00265 AE Unassigned STONE PEBBLE    
1
011AB00265 AF Unassigned STONE STONE   SANDSTONE
12
011AB00265 AG Unassigned STONE STONE    
10
011AB00265 AH Unassigned STONE STONE    
8
011AB00265 AI Unassigned POTTERY SHERD    
1
011AB00265 AJ ROMAN POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
011AB00265 AK ROMAN POTTERY SHERD PERFORATED ROMANO-BRITISH
1
011AB00265 AL PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE CORE REJUV  
1
011AB00265 AM PREHISTORIC FLINT FLINT FRAGMENT    
1
011AB00265 AN Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AB00265 AO PREHISTORIC FLINT BLADE    
1
011AB00265 AP PREHISTORIC FLINT FLINT CHIP CORE PREP  
1
011AB00265 AQ PREHISTORIC FLINT FLINT CHIP    
1
011AB00265 AR PREHISTORIC FLINT BLADE FRAGMENT PROXIMAL  
1
011AB00265 AS PREHISTORIC FLINT BLADE    
1
011AB00265 AT PREHISTORIC FLINT FLINT CHIP    
1
011AB00265 AU PREHISTORIC FLINT CORE FRAGMENT    
1
011AB00265 AV PREHISTORIC FLINT CORE?    
1
011AB00265 AW PREHISTORIC FLINT FLINT FRAGMENT RETOUCHED?  
1
011AB00265 AX PREHISTORIC FLINT FLINT FRAGMENT    
1
011AB00265 AY PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE    
1
011AB00265 AZ PREHISTORIC FLINT BLADE CORE PREP  
1
011AB00265 BA PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE    
1
011AB00265 BB PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE CORE PREP  
1
011AB00265 BC PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE CORE PREP  
1
011AB00265 BD Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AB00266 AA PREHISTORIC FLINT CORE FRAGMENT    
1
011AB00266 AB PREHISTORIC FLINT BLADE    
1
011AB00266 AC PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE    
1
011AB00266 AD PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE    
1
011AB00266 AE PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE    
1
011AB00266 AF PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE    
1
011AB00266 AG Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AB00266 AH Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AB00266 AI Unassigned STONE STONE    
15
011AB00266 AJ Unassigned STONE STONE    
30
011AB00266 AK Unassigned STONE STONE    
20
011AB00280 AA ROMAN POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
011AB00280 AB Unassigned CHARCOAL CHARCOAL SAMPLE    
1
011AB00280 AC PREHISTORIC FLINT BLADE    
1
011AB00280 AD PREHISTORIC FLINT FLINT FRAGMENTS    
4
011AB00280 AE PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE    
1
011AB00280 AF PREHISTORIC FLINT FLINT FRAGMENT BURNT  
1
011AB00280 AG PREHISTORIC FLINT BLADE FRAGMENTS PROXIMAL  
2
011AB00280 AH PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKES    
3
011AB00280 AI PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE CORE PREP  
1
011AB00280 AJ PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE    
1
011AB00280 AK PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE    
1
011AB00280 AL PREHISTORIC FLINT BLADE CORE PREP  
1
011AB00280 AM PREHISTORIC FLINT FLINT FRAGMENT    
1
011AB00280 AN Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AB00282 AA Unassigned STONE STONE   SANDSTONE
4
011AB00282 AB PREHISTORIC FLINT FLINT CHIP    
1
011AB00282 AC PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE CORE PREP  
1
011AB00283 AA Unassigned CHARCOAL CHARCOAL SAMPLE    
1
011AB00284 AA ROMAN POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
011AB00284 AB PREHISTORIC FLINT FLINT FRAGMENT    
1
011AB00284 AC PREHISTORIC FLINT BLADE    
1
011AB00284 AD Unassigned STONE STONE    
10

Animal Bones

KEY_ID SPECIES ELEMENT QUANT CHEW BURN BUTCH FBRK
011AB00233 Cattle Humerus D 1
0
 0 1 0
011AB00233 Cattle Scapula 1
0
 0 0 1

Stream Channel Animal Bones by Species
 
KEY_ID SPECIES ELEMENT QUANT CHEW BURN BUTCH FBRK
011AB00262 Cattle Humerus br 1
0
 0 0 0
011AB00262 Cattle M/C br 1
1
 0 0 0
011AB00264 Cattle M/T P 1
1
 0 0 0
011AB00264 Cattle Radius br 1
1
 0 0 0
011AB00265 Cattle Axis 1
0
 0 0 1
011AB00265 Cattle Femur br 1
0
 0 0 1
011AB00265 Cattle Femur D 1
0
 0 0 0
011AB00265 Cattle Horncore 1
0
 0 0 0
011AB00265 Cattle Humerus br 2
1
 0 0 1
011AB00265 Cattle Humerus C 1
0
 0 0 0
011AB00265 Cattle Humerus D 1
0
 0 1 0
011AB00265 Cattle M/T br 1
1
 0 0 0
011AB00265 Cattle M/T br 1
1
 0 0 1
011AB00265 Cattle M/T br 1
1
 0 0 1
011AB00265 Cattle M/T C 1
1
 0 0 1
011AB00265 Cattle Radius D 1
0
 0 0 1
011AB00265 Cattle Radius P 1
0
 0 0 0
011AB00265 Cattle Tibia br 1
1
 0 0 0
011AB00265 Sheep/Goat Tibia D 1
0
 0 0 0
011AB00266 Cattle Ld4 1
0
 0 0 0
011AB00266 Cattle M/T C 1
0
 0 0 1
011AB00266 Cattle Scapula 1
0
 0 0 0
011AB00280 Cattle M/C br 1
1
 0 0 1
011AB00280 Cattle Radius P 1
0
 0 0 1
011AB00280 Cattle Tibia br 1
0
 0 0 1
011AB00280 Horse Skull fr 1
0
 0 0 0
011AB00280 Sheep/Goat M/T br 1
0
 0 0 1
011AB00280 Sheep/Goat Tibia br 1
0
 0 0 1
011AB00281 Cattle Femur D 1
0
 0 0 0
011AB00281 Cattle Humerus D 1
1
 0 0 1
011AB00282 Cattle Femur br 1
0
 0 0 0
011AB00282 Sheep/Goat LM3 1
0
 0 0 0
011AB00282 Sheep/Goat M/C br 1
0
 0 0 1